Albion: key info

21 September 2012

Our preview to Saturday's game

The Royals take on West Bromwich Albion this weekend and we've got a quick round-up of all you need to know ahead of our clash at the Hawthorns – the first ever top flight match between Reading and the Baggies.

Team News

Steve Clarke is hopeful that Steven Reid will recover from a hamstring injury in time to feature this weekend, while Goran Popov and Jerome Thomas have been ruled out. Striker Peter Odemwingie is suspended following his red card at Fulham last weekend.

Brian McDermott has no new injury doubts to concern himself with. Jimmy Kebe has returned to training but this weekend's game has probably come a little too soon for the winger, while Jason Roberts (calf) is also nearing a return but remains sidelined. Adam Federici is seeing a specialist about bone bruising in his knee.

Head to head

Reading fans will have fond memories of our last trip to Albion – a Fifth Round FA Cup replay at the Hawthorns in 2010. Jimmy Kebe drew Brian McDermott's cup conquerors level early on, only for Robert Koren’s second goal of the night soon after the interval to put Roberto Di Matteo's men back in front. It looked like it would be enough to send the Royals crashing out of the cup, but Brian Howard’s injury time strike kept the tie alive, before Gylfi Sigurdsson’s extra-time cracker secured our passage to the quarter-finals.

The Royals lost 3-1 in their last league fixture at West Brom - in the Championship back in 2009. But the Royals did secure a replay in the 2005/6 FA Cup clash between the teams thanks to a Kevin Doyle penalty at the Hawthorns – and Reading went on to win the rearranged tie at the Madejski thanks to a Leroy Lita hat-trick.

Tickets

The initial allocation of tickets has sold out. However, West Brom have released 172 extra tickets which will be available to Reading fans on the day of the game from the ground. You can buy them at the away kiosk situated next to the A Block turnstiles at the Hawthorns from 1.30pm on Saturday afternoon. Please note that it is a CASH ONLY kiosk.

A limited number of disabled tickets remain, priced at £10 with the carer going free. To book disabled tickets, contact kphillips@readingfc.co.uk / 0118 968 1006.

This weekend's referee

Chris Foy will be the referee on Saturday, R Ganfield and H Lennard will be his assistants, J Adcock fourth official. Foy last officiated in a Royals match in last season’s 3-1 defeat at Cardiff.

Travel

By Car: Take the M40 towards Oxford/Birmingham and then merge onto the M42 and take the M5(N) exit and merge onto the M5. At junction 1, take the A41 exit to West Bromwich/Birmingham. Postcode for the Hawthorns is B71 4LF - more information can be found here.

Parking: There are a number of official and private car parks around the Hawthorns. For more info click here.

By Train: The stadium is accessible from the Hawthorns train and Metro station only. Take the national train line into New Street, Birmingham, and change for a local train or Metro to the Hawthorns from Snow Hill, Birmingham – a five minute walk from the station.

Coach travel

For all the latest away game coach travel information, go to www.star-reading.org for departure times, pricing information and how to book.

Matchday live!

Supporters not travelling to the Hawthorns can listen to the action live on Reading FC Player. Our official online TV station will ensure you don’t miss a thing from BBC Berkshire’s commentary team of Tim Dellor, Mick Gooding and Ady Williams.

Also on Reading Player, our online TV channel, you can watch footage building up to the clash with the Baggies, as manager Brian McDermott shares his thoughts on the game as well as an exclusive interview with Jem Karacan who signed a new contract earlier this week. Highlights from the under-21s' latest match are accessible now and we'll have highlights and the full 90 minutes from our meeting with West Brom online next week. It’s just over 10p to sign up!